US Men’s Soccer Open World Cup Qualifying Against Antigua June 8

NEW YORK (AP) — The United States will open qualifying for the 2014 World Cup at home against Antigua and Barbuda on June 8.

The Americans, trying to qualify for their seventh straight trip to soccer's championship, play at Guatemala on June 12, FIFA announced Wednesday.

After the summer break, the U.S. plays at Jamaica on Sept. 7, then hosts the Reggae Boyz four days later. In the final games of the regional semifinals, the Americans are at Antigua on Oct. 12 and close Group A at home against Guatemala on Oct. 16.

Sites for the home games will be announced later.

The top two teams from each of three groups advance to the 2013 regional finals in North and Central America and the Caribbean. The first three teams will qualify for the 2014 tournament in Brazil, and the fourth-place team goes to a home-and-home playoff against the Oceania champion — likely New Zealand — for another berth.

Group B has Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guyana and Mexico, and Group C includes Canada, Cuba, Honduras and Panama.